Method, apparatus, and system for rapid assessment

Abstract

Systems and devices for assessment of an impact by an event on an environment are disclosed. Processes for automated impact assessment are also disclosed. An impact assessment can be performed in computer-generated environments which include data regarding the environment impacted and data regarding the event impacting the environment. Environment data may be represented as a geospatial layer.

1 . A method performed by a computer system for processing an impact assessment, comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least one of a plurality of environment layers comprising at least one environment feature and at least one environment geometric point;   receiving at least one event layer comprising at least one event feature;   receiving a query designating at least one affected layer, selected from the at least one of the plurality of environment layers; and   performing an impact assessment for the at least one affected layer, the impact assessment comprising:
 detecting all environment features present in the affected layer; 
 performing an impact assessment, further comprising the steps of:
 selecting an event feature of the received event layer; 
 selecting an environment geometric point of the affected layer; 
 determining if the selected environment geometric point intersects with the selected event feature; and 
 merging the selected environment geometric point with the selected event feature when the environment geometric point intersects with the event feature. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining step is repeated for all remaining event features. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein performing an impact assessment for the at least one affected layer further comprises performing the determining step for all remaining environment geometric points. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein performing an impact assessment for the at least one affected layer further comprises performing the selecting step for all remaining event features. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of performing the impact assessment steps for all remaining designated affected layers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of outputting the results of the impact assessment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event layer corresponds to an event selected from a group consisting of natural events, chemical releases, biological releases, explosions, and socio-cultural events. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environment layer corresponds to an environment selected from a group consisting of natural terrain, geographic boundaries, infrastructure, buildings, and people. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the environment layer is represented by at least one environment polygon and the event layer is represented by at least one event polygon. 
     
     
         10 . A computer system for performing an impact assessment comprising:
 a data bus for receiving at least one environment layer comprising at least one environment feature and at least one environment geometric point, at least one event layer comprising at least one event feature, and a query designating at least one affected layer, selected from the at least one environment layers;   a storage device for storing the at least one environment layer, the designated at least one affected layer, and the at least one event layer;   a processor for performing an impact assessment for the at least one affected layer by detecting all environment features present in the affected layer,   a selector for selecting an event feature of the event layer, selecting an environment geometric point of the affected layer, and reselecting the event feature of the event layer,   wherein the processor determines if the selected environment geometric point intersects with the event feature, and merges the selected environment geometric point with the event feature when the environment geometric point intersects with the event feature; and   a display device for outputting the result of the impact assessment.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor determines the impact assessment for all remaining event features stored in the storage device. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor determines the impact assessment for all remaining environment geometric points. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the selector selects event features for all remaining event features. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor performs the impact assessment for all remaining designated affected layers stored in the storage device. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the display output is a visualization of the results of the impact assessment. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the event layer corresponds to an event selected from a group consisting of natural events, chemical releases, biological releases, explosions, and socio-cultural events. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the environment layer corresponds to an environment selected from a group consisting of natural terrain, geographic boundaries, infrastructure, buildings, and people. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the environment layer is represented by at least one environment polygon and the event layer is represented by at least one event polygon. 
     
     
         19 . A computing apparatus comprising:
 a storage device for storing at least one environment layer and at least one event layer;   an input device for inputting at least one query designating at least one affected layer, selected from the at least one environment layers;   a processing device for merging the at least one affected layer and the at least one event layer when there is an intersection between the environmental layer and the event layer; and   a output device for outputting the results of the merger of the at least one affected layer and the at least one environmental layer.   
     
     
         20 . The computing apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the event layer corresponds to an event selected from a group consisting of natural events, chemical releases, biological releases, explosions, and socio-cultural events and the environment layer corresponds to an environment selected from a group consisting of natural terrain, geographic boundaries, infrastructure, buildings, and people. 
     
     
         21 . The computing apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the outputted result of the merger is selected from a group of output types consisting of visualization, entity stats logic, and alarm status logic. 
     
     
         22 . A communications network comprising:
 at least one sensor providing information corresponding to at least one event layer;   a computing network connected to the at least one sensor comprising:
 a receiving portion for receiving information corresponding to the at least one event layer; 
 a storage device for storing at least one environment layer and the at least one event layer; 
   an input device for inputting at least one query designating at least one affected layer, selected from the at least one environment layers;   a processing device for merging the at least one affected layer and the at least one event layer when there is an intersection between the environmental layer and the event layer; and   an output device for outputting the results of the merger of the at least one affected layer and the at least one environmental layer.